Ogijo is an Elder or the Eldest in the family or Clan. As a Head of the Clan, he oversees the Clan like a Traditional Ruler. He is, thus treated as a Traditional Ruler by the clan people, since they are his subjects.
That was the same principle used by all the Ogisos, including Ogiso Igodo and Ogiso Ere.
It believed that it was word "Ogijo" that became the word "Ogiso" of Igodomigodo or Benin.
Idu is said to have migrated from Igodo in Uhe/Ife in Omala area of Igala land in the Benue confluence in present Kogi State.
Idu and Ere are still names Igala people bear, especially the children or family members of hunters or Royals. In Igala, Idu is lion, Ere is python. All refers to power and strength.
Igodo in Igala means "he has seen a good settlement". The name "Igodomigodo" is possibly from "Igodo Oma Igodo" meaning the new Igodo birthed by the Uhe Kogi State Igodo or simply put, "Igodo the son of Igodo". Benin or Edo people and Igala are brothers
TRADITIONAL RULERSHIP IN IGODOMIGODO
By: Samuel Igbinosa Nomamiukor
Contrary to claims, the Ogiso dynasty is not the beginning of rulership in Igodomigodo which became Benin.
In Benin historic period is divided into dynastic and pre- dynastic rulers.
The pre-dynastic rulers were Edionwere, which were the Elders in the land.
Edionwere is the oldest form of leadership in the land. Leader- ship and Rulership did not start with the Ogisos but the rather with the Edionwere system.
"Igodo" the first king or Ogiso was an Odionwere, an Elder, together with Oliha, Edohen Ero, and Eholo Nire who were also Edionwere, Elders.
These four Edionwere assisted "Odionwere Igodo" in his successful coup against the "Iko Edionwere", giving birth to the first monarchial rule in the land, and the first dynasty.
The Edionweres: Oliha, Edohen Ero, and Eholo Nire, that helped install Ogiso Igodo, became known as Edion Enene which metarmophosed into Usama Nihiron (Edion)
No comments:
Post a Comment